Investigating strategies to enhance the efficacy of the antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan in breast cancer

Summary

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as sacituzumab govitecan (SG) have recently led to significant improvement in the survival rates for several cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes. However, cancer eventually develops resistance to SG, limiting its effectiveness over time. Combining SG with other treatments may help overcome this resistance and improve patient outcomes.

Our research aims to explore how combining SG with other therapies can make cancer cells more responsive to treatment. By finding ways to enhance the effectiveness of SG, we hope to tackle cancer cells that have become resistant. We will also investigate how immunotherapy can be used to strengthen the body's immune system, helping it better recognise and fight cancer, which may further improve the impact of SG.

In the laboratory, we will test how cancer cells respond to SG and determine the most effective ways to overcome resistance to SG. We will also test whether boosting the anti-tumour effect of immune cells can further enhance the effectiveness of SG. This project will run in parallel with a clinical trial on SG, allowing us to use insights from our laboratory studies to inform clinical results and future trial design.

Once validated, our research may lead to new treatment strategies for TNBC and potentially other cancers, overcoming resistance to existing therapies and offering patients more effective, personalised options for fighting the disease.